Harvey––Dorothy Cecilia Strughold, 83, of 479 County Road 480, and former Skandia resident, entered eternal life Saturday morning, December 8, 2007, at home, in the comfort and care of her family and the caregivers of Lake Superior Hospice.
Dorothy was born March 6, 1924 in Florissant, Missouri, the youngest of ten children of Lee and Margaret (Richter) Burke, and graduated from school in Ferguson, Missouri. Following graduation, she worked for a time with the United Drug Company. On November 18, 1950, she married Melvin Karl Strughold at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and together the couple shared the life of a career military man, establishing various households and raising their children in a variety of locations. During the time Mel was stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Dorothy was employed with UP Office Supply as a salesclerk.
Dorothy was very devoted to her family, participating as much as possible in the activities of her growing children. She was a ballet mom, girl and cub scout den mother, and taught catechism; sharing in each child’s individual areas of interest. She also was an avid golfer, not letting weather, the course sprinkling system, or lack of team players deter her from a good game of golf. She was always polite, but persistent. Dorothy was also a good cook and loved flower gardening. In her earlier years, she enjoyed roller skating with husband, Mel, the couple having initially met at the roller rink in St. Louis. Dorothy was a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey.
Survivors include her daughters, Karla (Thomas) Rushford of Harvey, Karen Strughold of East Tawas, and Kathleen Scheiding of Traverse City; a son, Gregory Strughold of Kansas City, MO; a daughter-in-law, Marsha Strughold of Houston, TX; her grandchildren, Mark (Kimberly) Rushford and Jessica (Dan) Sharland; and great-grandchildren, Kylie Rushford, Cecilia, Nora, Spencer, and Reece Sharland; and numerous nieces and nephews in St. Louis, MO. In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Mel, in 2006; a son, Bruce Strughold; sisters, Clara Simmons, Emily O’Dell, Loretta Farace, and Margaret Burke; and brothers, Sylvester, Wilford, Ferdinand, Elmer, and Charles Burke.
Friends may call at St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey on Tuesday, December 11, beginning at 11:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00 noon with Rev. Ben Paris, pastor, as celebrant. Pallbearers will be Gregory Strughold, Mark and Tom Rushford, Dan Sharland, Amy Byrd, and Ken Lykins. Burial will be made in the Northland Chapel Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lake Superior Hospice Association, 914 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.